Without question Derek Trucks is in the elite ranks of guitarists. But similar to when you hear someone talk about "capturing a bands live energy in the studio", Trucks had yet to release a record that both harnessed his skill and at the same time felt accessible to an audience larger than his loyal fan base. Well, with Already Free, the new album from The Derek Trucks Band, that balance is achieved and Trucks' stardom shines pretty bright.

Without question Derek Trucks is in the elite ranks of guitarists. But similar to when you hear someone talk about "capturing a bands live energy in the studio", Trucks had yet to release a record that both harnessed his skill and at the same time felt accessible to an audience larger than his loyal fan base. Well, with Already Free, the new album from The Derek Trucks Band, that balance is achieved and Trucks' stardom shines pretty bright.

Live Concert Broadcast and Webcast Fridays At Noon

May 28, 2009
Double Header! Derek Trucks Band and Guy Sebastian featuring Steve Cropper at World Cafe Live

XPN Free at Noon at World Cafe Live.
A co-production of WXPN and NPR Music.

The Derek Trucks Band, or DTB, is an eclectic collection of self-proclaimed jammers, each highly successful in his own right. Headed by Derek Trucks on guitar, the sextet includes Kofi Burbridge (keyboards, flute, and vocals), Todd Smallie (bass and vocals), Yonrico Scott (drums, percussion, and vocals), Mike Mattison (lead vocals), and Count M'Butu (percussion). They have released seven acclaimed albums since 1997, touring with other musicians such as Trucks' wife, Susan Tedeschi.

Derek Trucks is a Grammy-nominated guitar prodigy. His first instrument came from a garage sale for $5 when he was nine, and within a year he was on stage performing. He was the youngest guitarist to make it onto Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. He formed the DTB when he was 15, and has been perfecting their diverse and improvisational sound ever since.

The DTB's influences range from blues, soul, jazz, rock, Indian music, Latin music, and other international sounds. Their latest album, Already Free, is no exception.
Featuring an emotive cover of Bob Dylan's "Down in the Flood", this collection of twelve songs is warm, soulful, and relaxed.

The DTB is currently touring across the continent with stops in Toronto, Washington D.C., and Florida. They play The Keswick on Friday night, May 29 at 8pm.

Promising to be a Free At Noon not to miss, this show will bring together two musical greats, the incredible voice of "Australian Idol" Guy Sebastian and the legendary Stax axe man Steve Cropper. Their recent collaboration on Sebastian's platinum The Memphis Album has led to touring together, and the two are coming to World Cafe Live to kick up some soulful R&B.

Guy Sebastian is an Australian singer/songwriter with several top albums and singles under his belt since winning the country's first "Idol" contest in 2003. His joyous and individualistic style has won him over twenty music awards, and his U.S. debut is expected this summer.

Named one of the "Top 100 Guitarists of All Time" by Rolling Stone, Steve Cropper first picked up a guitar at age 14 and began playing with local musicians in his native Tennessee. Legendary for for his work with Booker T & the MGs, The Blues Brothers, and his songwriting, engineering and producing, he has been inducted into the American Hall of Fame four times (Rock and Roll, Rhythm & Blues, Songwriters and Musicians). Cropper has been credited with writing some of the most enduring soul music of all time.

Join us this Friday as they perform the music that critics
have called creative masterpieces.